Why shouldn't they? If Alabama and Auburn can claim a shit ton of titles they didn't win, why can't UCF?

They can do anything they like, it is up to them, but they only beat one team that most objective fans would say was a top flight opponent. Hey, props them -- this was the biggest game in their program's history and they rose to the occasion. Celebrate it.You know Auburn was bummed to have blown their shot at the playoff by losing in the SEC Championship.Still -- Auburn was a super team this year and UCF beat them in the bowl game.

I am not of the school that any undefeated season = champ. It is impressive and awfully difficult -- but much easier if you play teams loaded with guys who will never sniff the NFL.

Why shouldn't they? If Alabama and Auburn can claim a shit ton of titles they didn't win, why can't UCF?

They can do anything they like, it is up to them, but they only beat one team that most objective fans would say was a top flight opponent. Hey, props them -- this was the biggest game in their program's history and they rose to the occasion. Celebrate it.You know Auburn was bummed to have blown their shot at the playoff by losing in the SEC Championship.Still -- Auburn was a super team this year and UCF beat them in the bowl game.

I am not of the school that any undefeated season = champ. It is impressive and awfully difficult -- but much easier if you play teams loaded with guys who will never sniff the NFL.

I will give them props for beating Auburn. that is always a good thing.

Why shouldn't they? If Alabama and Auburn can claim a shit ton of titles they didn't win, why can't UCF?

They can do anything they like, it is up to them, but they only beat one team that most objective fans would say was a top flight opponent. Hey, props them -- this was the biggest game in their program's history and they rose to the occasion. Celebrate it.You know Auburn was bummed to have blown their shot at the playoff by losing in the SEC Championship.Still -- Auburn was a super team this year and UCF beat them in the bowl game.

I am not of the school that any undefeated season = champ. It is impressive and awfully difficult -- but much easier if you play teams loaded with guys who will never sniff the NFL.

That's a very unfair and false assessment. I know it's a different conference than what UCF plays in, but there is some stat with like a crazy percentage of NFL starters coming from the MAC.

Why shouldn't they? If Alabama and Auburn can claim a shit ton of titles they didn't win, why can't UCF?

They can do anything they like, it is up to them, but they only beat one team that most objective fans would say was a top flight opponent. Hey, props them -- this was the biggest game in their program's history and they rose to the occasion. Celebrate it.You know Auburn was bummed to have blown their shot at the playoff by losing in the SEC Championship.Still -- Auburn was a super team this year and UCF beat them in the bowl game.

I am not of the school that any undefeated season = champ. It is impressive and awfully difficult -- but much easier if you play teams loaded with guys who will never sniff the NFL.

That's a very unfair and false assessment. I know it's a different conference than what UCF plays in, but there is some stat with like a crazy percentage of NFL starters coming from the MAC.

That could be true -- I haven't seen it. It does cast a wide net and I do not mean to disparage the top players that come out of the American Athletic Conference. I would not even know where to look to prove it, but if we were to go through and pick the # of players put into the NFL in the last 5 years in the AAC and match it up with any of the Power 5 conferences, I think my point would be supported.I could be wrong, though, have not done any research like that.

American had 8, which is much higher than I would have expected. Good for them. By comparison, you can see that the SEC has nearly 3 times that many.

How about 2017 Rosters? I could only see by college, not by conference:

Made me wonder about the top talent -- 1st round draft picks -- found something for overall...since the draft started 82 years ago, by conference:

Granted, these were from quick searches and do not answer specifically what you are referencing....which was Starters on NFL Teams, by Conference.

I was not trying to poop on UCF -- just point out that going undefeated and beating an excellent team in a bowl game doesn't mean you should be the champ. Who you play & beat during the regular season should weigh heavily, imo.

The whole system is so stupid. Should be an 8 team playoff...conf champions from Power 5 get in with 3 'wild card' bids.

Even with this scenario I bet UCF would get left out. The 5 automatics would be Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, and USC. The 3 wild cards most likely Alabama, Wisconsin, and probably Auburn or Miami. And in any season where Notre Dame is relevant you can almost guarantee they'll get a wild card.

The whole system is so stupid. Should be an 8 team playoff...conf champions from Power 5 get in with 3 'wild card' bids.

Even with this scenario I bet UCF would get left out. The 5 automatics would be Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, and USC. The 3 wild cards most likely Alabama, Wisconsin, and probably Auburn or Miami. And in any season where Notre Dame is relevant you can almost guarantee they'll get a wild card.

yep. there is no room at the table for these teams unless they start scheduling Power 5 opponents. at least 1 traditional power each season. and bowl games are too late to count.

The whole system is so stupid. Should be an 8 team playoff...conf champions from Power 5 get in with 3 'wild card' bids.

Even with this scenario I bet UCF would get left out. The 5 automatics would be Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson, Oklahoma, and USC. The 3 wild cards most likely Alabama, Wisconsin, and probably Auburn or Miami. And in any season where Notre Dame is relevant you can almost guarantee they'll get a wild card.

yep. there is no room at the table for these teams unless they start scheduling Power 5 opponents. at least 1 traditional power each season. and bowl games are too late to count.

Then "Power 5" teams need to start scheduling them. This has been an issue for over a decade, like I mentioned before when Utah, Boise, & TCU were on the up & up in smaller conference. They wanted to schedule Power 5s and no one would take them. Wonder why??

If they can't compete for a full season, then show us they can't compete. Because for the last decade or more, they've shown they can compete in almost every opportunity they've been given. They need more opportunities.

I think if you look at many Power 5 schools they are working to schedule other, top, Power 5 teams as out of conference opponents.There is the huge level of greed to get by with regard to scheduling as well -- nobody wants to give up any home games.

Scheduling is a larger discussion that I don't know enough about to truly speak to....I do know that my team has 2 open dates per year typically -- since they play Notre Dame every year.What they try to do (it seems) is schedule one home and home with a good team (Texas this year and next) and one home game with a lower level team (Western Michigan this year and UNLV next.) This does provide opportunity but I think they insist that it is a one year, @ USC contract to fill. I suspect the top players out of conference (rightfully) call bullshit on that and would try and demand a home & home.

Again, I know scheduling is complex and that there is a LOT I do not know.

And...at least USC has never (ever) played a lower division team. Those should be abolished. [Although I know when I last posted this thought, there were a number of dissenting posts which made a good case for why these were important.]With so few games there is only so much you can do.

I didn't think Ohio State or Alabama really "deserved" to get in. Alabama weak resume plus not winning their conference and Ohio States loss to Iowa. Plus with JT at QB the buckeyes offense was mediocre at best against USC. The Defense won that game.

Yes I know OSU got in last year without winning the Big 10 but they were #2 two going into the Michigan game and beat OU on the road. Washington kept PSU out last year not the Buckeyes.

Back to this year I didn't think Alabama looked all that impressive the other night. It was more how shitty Clemson looked. Maybe they were the ones that should of been left out. I know this is lame reasoning but take away the two pics in the 3rd and that was a 10-6 crappy football game.

Clemsons offense looked like shit because bamas defense kicked the shit out of them. And Clemson forgot to suit up their best player. Deshaun Watson.

Clemson just played poorly. Watson was definitely a big loss, but they've had great games without him.This season seemed like such a roller coaster, from playing at their best to worst. Luckily every time they played this poorly it was against a weak team and they still came out on top.They could have won at their best. But consistency was not their friend this year.

If they can't compete for a full season, then show us they can't compete. Because for the last decade or more, they've shown they can compete in almost every opportunity they've been given. They need more opportunities.

I hear ya on some of that. I went to Troy and I know that Alabama and Auburn don't want to schedule them because of what happened to LSU. but that is in-state schools. I don't think UCF would've had any problems 5 years ago or however long it takes to make the schedule. now, they might. but as for this year... they got no excuse.

If they can't compete for a full season, then show us they can't compete. Because for the last decade or more, they've shown they can compete in almost every opportunity they've been given. They need more opportunities.

I hear ya on some of that. I went to Troy and I know that Alabama and Auburn don't want to schedule them because of what happened to LSU. but that is in-state schools. I don't think UCF would've had any problems 5 years ago or however long it takes to make the schedule. now, they might. but as for this year... they got no excuse.

If they can't compete for a full season, then show us they can't compete. Because for the last decade or more, they've shown they can compete in almost every opportunity they've been given. They need more opportunities.

I hear ya on some of that. I went to Troy and I know that Alabama and Auburn don't want to schedule them because of what happened to LSU. but that is in-state schools. I don't think UCF would've had any problems 5 years ago or however long it takes to make the schedule. now, they might. but as for this year... they got no excuse.

I remember when Troy damn near beat my Noles back in '06.

YEP. I really like our coach now but we have always been competitive since joining the BCS in 2002.

recruited a couple great players that fell thru the cracks like Osi Uminyura and Demarcus Ware.

I have a soft spot for the smaller school teams because of attending this school.

And...at least USC has never (ever) played a lower division team. Those should be abolished. [Although I know when I last posted this thought, there were a number of dissenting posts which made a good case for why these were important.]With so few games there is only so much you can do.

I agree that Power 5 teams should never schedule a lower division team either. But, looking at it from the lower division schools, it's how they make money. That one game payday is HUGE for those schools.

If they can't compete for a full season, then show us they can't compete. Because for the last decade or more, they've shown they can compete in almost every opportunity they've been given. They need more opportunities.

I hear ya on some of that. I went to Troy and I know that Alabama and Auburn don't want to schedule them because of what happened to LSU. but that is in-state schools. I don't think UCF would've had any problems 5 years ago or however long it takes to make the schedule. now, they might. but as for this year... they got no excuse.

I remember when Troy damn near beat my Noles back in '06.

just when I'm thinking you're OK, you bring up "your" noles of free shoes university.